At dawn, Marnis woke up, took a bath, and went to the kitchen for breakfast. He took out two loaves of bread and a jar of jam. He took his things and sat at the dining table.
‘It’s all empty. I wonder when it will be safe for them to come back…’ He thought, taking a bite from the bread.
As he ate, there was a knock at the door.
“I wonder who it is…” Marnis mumbled, standing up.
Marnis walked up to the door and opened it. In front of him, a military officer stood. He wore dark blue clothes, which matched his blue eyes and hair well. Marnis looked at the man’s badge.
‘He’s a captain…’
“Captain Irnik?” Marnis asked, confirming.
“Correct…Lord Marnis, I presume?” Irnik asked in a respectful tone.
“Yes, I am Marnis. Are you here to talk about Felmer?”
“Yes, I am…” Irnik replied, smiling lightly.
“Then…” Marnis stepped inside. “Come inside…Let’s talk comfortably.”
“Sure…” Irnik said and stepped inside.
They sat at the dining table.
“Would you like to have breakfast?”
“No, no…I have already done it…”
Irnik took out a paper from the inner pocket of his coat.
“General Ednita conveyed your request to me. And I have decided to accept it.” Irnik said, wearing his monocles.
“Hmm…Great…” Marnis was happy. “What can you teach him?”
“All there is to teach him…”
“All?” Marnis was confused.
“I will only teach him what he can’t do. Teaching him things he can do is a waste of time for both Felmer and me. Can you tell me what he can and can’t do?”
“From the letters I have received from them, he is very good at hand-to-hand combat. But he is very bad at using the sword. Actually, saying bad is an exaggeration. He can’t use the sword at all.”
Irnik fell into deep thought. ‘This is pretty easy for me. Well, only if he is willing to learn.’
“And why is that so? He hates using the sword?” Irnik asked as he was interrogating Marnis.
“He can’t control his magic. He can in hand-to-hand combat, but not with a sword.”
‘A common issue among cadets. I can do that easily…’ Irnik relaxed.
“Not a problem…I can teach him that…”
“Oh great…Your answer eases me a lot.”
“Here…” Irnik passed the paper to Marnis. “Sign here…And our contract is complete…”
Marnis read the contents of the paper and looked at Irnik.
“10 silver coins a day. Teaching Felmer to the point where both parties are satisfied. And no objection to how you teach him.” Marnis placed the paper down. “That’s all?”
“Yes…That’s all.”
‘I knew he would be confused…’
“Fine…I will sign it…” Marnis signed the paper, and both stood up.
“We will set off in the evening…” Marnis extended his hand.
“I am looking forward to travelling with you and teaching Felmer…” Irnik shook Marnis’s hand.
…
Before noon, in Maska.
Felmer and Anderson packed their bags as the teacher left the room.
“Do you think we will be in the same squad?” Anderson asked.
“Who knows?” Felmer replied, placing a book in his bag. “Wait…” Felmer remembered something. “You are taking part in the training?” Felmer looked up in surprise.
“Well, uhh…I should learn one or two things about combat as well…” Anderson said like he had committed a crime.
“Unpredictable. Totally unexpected for me.” Felmer went back to packing his bag. “It shouldn’t be much of a problem. Today, squads will be made, and trainers will be assigned. So you can ask a few things from the trainer.”
“I will. I hope the trainer will be nice.”
Picking up their bags, the students walked out of the room and headed to the central ground. All the students of the institute were present, waiting for the teachers to arrive.
“There are very few students…” Zendaya commented, sitting near Felmer and Anderson.
“You are taking part as well?” Anderson asked, smiling.
“My parents wanted me to. ‘The first female fighter in the family,’ they said. Though I am not interested much…” She answered, staring at the crowd. “And why are you taking part in it? I thought you only cared about books and grades.”
“I…uhh…Thought that I should learn one or two things about combat as well…” Anderson replied, scratching his left arm.
‘Seriously? You said the exact words to her which you said to me…’ Felmer thought, looking at Anderson.
“I won’t ask you. From your background, I think it is essential for you…” Zendaya said, eyes still fixed on the students.
“Correct…This family thing and politics have made it essential.”
“You are not interested in any of it?” Anderson asked, puzzled.
“Nah…I just want to live peacefully, happily, and unbothered,” Felmer said, sitting on the ground.
As the trio waited, Felmer felt a presence behind him, and then a hand on his head.
Felmer looked back and saw a student standing. He was eating a sandwich.
“Well, well…The chicks are waiting for their fodder.” Efkil took a piece of the sandwich and threw it at Felmer. “Satisfy yourselves…”
“You have taken part, too, I see…” Felmer stood up. “Whose boots did your father lick this time?” Felmer taunted him, smiling.
Felmer had said it loud enough for everyone to hear. Many nearby erupted in laughter, as some whispered about Efkil’s father. Efkil turned red, dropping the sandwich on the ground. He walked swiftly towards Felmer, but a loud whistle stopped his tracks.
“All students, remain calm and quiet. The staff and the headmaster have arrived, and now the students will be assigned to their squads.” A teacher with a big build announced.
The students diverted their attention to the teacher and stared at the staff. Efkil made a bad face at Felmer and walked back to his friends.
“Each squad will consist of four students and a trainer. Some trainers are present. But the squads whose trainers haven’t arrived yet will wait till they do…” The teacher’s voice echoed on the ground as he took out a paper from his pocket and began reading it.
He sorted out the squads, and the students formed groups. Felmer, Anderson, and Zendaya waited for their turn, nervous about whether they would be together.
“Squad number eleven. Felmer Gorbin, Anderson Gold, Zendaya Zerith, and Efkil Rigner.”
“HUH!?!?” The trio shouted in unison.
“What the hell is he doing with us?” Anderson whispered in Felmer’s ear.
“Why are you asking me? Ask the teacher…” Felmer whispered back.
“Your trainer is en route to Maska. He might arrive tonight. So your training begins tomorrow…” The teacher told them. “That’s all. I hope all of you will be cooperative and show good results.
“What a great turn of events…” Zendaya murmured, standing up.
The staff and the students left the ground. Efkil walked close to Felmer, looked at his feet and spat. Felmer looked at Efkil, raising an eyebrow.
Efkil got closer and whispered in Felmer’s ear. “You will regret what you said about my father…”
“We will see…” Felmer replied in the same way.
Efkil stared at Felmer for a few seconds and left.
…
In the evening, in Faskerlis, the capital of Falvaria.
The doors opened with a creak that echoed through the hall as Laminar entered.
The hall was vast, with paintings of the previous kings on the left and the old flags and emblems of Falvaria on the right.
Laminar walked up to the centre of the hall. He looked at the table in front of him and then at the majestic golden Phoenix etched into the wall behind the throne.
“Admiring the beauty of the kingdom?” Larnet asked, sitting on the throne with his legs crossed.
“Yes…I am, Your Majesty…”
“Good…You should know how great the empire is. You should know its greatness till the day you sit on the throne and till the day you die.” Larnet stood up from the throne and walked up to the table in the centre.
“May I ask why you called me here?” Laminar asked respectfully.
“Your brother Rinfis has gone to Tarmil for some peace treaties and a friendly visit. With his temporary absence, you should assist me with matters of the state. It will be a good opportunity for you to learn how these matters are handled.”
“I have never taken part in such things, my King…I don’t think I am fit to assist you…”
“Don’t worry, son. That’s why I will be with you. I am going to teach you.” Larnet got closer and placed his hand on Laminar’s shoulder.
“Yes, sir…I will assist you.” Laminar nodded, smiling.
Larnet walked to the opposite side of the table and signalled Laminar to come closer. Laminar remained on the opposite side and looked at Larnet.
Laminar studied the world map and the different flags on the table. There were figures representing different armies.
“You know the terms for all these things?” Larnet said, placing his hands on the table.
“Yes, sir…I do,” Laminar nodded.
“Do you know where Cerfis is?”
“Yes…To the east lies Cerfis.”
“And I am pretty sure you know our history with them…” Larnet said, walking to his right.
“Yes, I do…”
“Our forces have been hunting down the Gorbins for a century. We have been successful in various attacks and have killed their crucial members. But lately, Marnis Gorbin has been a problem.”
“Is he alone?” Laminar asked.
“No…He has a family, but he sent them to Maska.” Larnet informed, placing his finger on Russin-Solvo on the map.
“If I remember correctly, Emairis Gorbin, the younger brother of the late Emayla Gorbin, is still alive. Why don’t we hunt him?”
“There’s no use. He is very old and on his deathbed. The potential targets are Marnis and his oldest son, Felmer.”
“But Marnis is in the Capital and his son is in Maska?” Laminar asked, scratching the table’s side.
“Yes…But there was some news about Marnis. He is going to Maska.”
Laminar fell into deep thought on hearing the new development.
‘Let’s see what you will do in this situation…’ Larnet thought, staring at Laminar.
‘He wants an answer from me. He seems to be testing me…’ Laminar understood the assignment.
As Laminar thought, an idea struck his mind.
“The best thing…” Laminar stopped as he heard the door open.
A commander walked in and stood at some distance from Laminar.
“I am at your service, my king…” The commander said, hand on his chest and slightly bowing.
“What were you saying?” Larnet looked at Laminar.
“I think the best thing would be to attack Marnis and his group when they are out of Cerfis in the kingdom of Qearistisk.”
“Good…” Larnet said and looked at the commander. “I think you heard the prince.”
The commander looked at Larnet, then at Laminar.
“Yes, sir…” He responded, bowing.
‘He was going to do that whether I gave that idea or not…’ Laminar thought, gritting his teeth.
The commander rushed towards the door.
“Let none live…” Larnet’s voice echoed inside the hall.
…
After sunset, on the road to the Alcoz Mountains, in Qaeristisk.
Five horses slowly walked on the road to the great mountains, with the special guard leading the pack.
Irnik took out a bottle of water and took a few sips.
“Oh…I remember something I forgot to tell you…” Marnis said, moving his horse closer to Irnik’s.
“What is it, Lord Marnis?” Irnik asked, looking at Marnis.
“First of all, drop the Lord. Only use my name.”
“Okay, Marnis…” Irnik said, hesitating.
‘This was awkward…’ Irnik thought, smiling.
“Now, the thing I have to tell you. You won’t be teaching Felmer alone; there will be three more students with him.”
“Wait, what? Seriously?” Irnik said, regretting the contract he signed.
“I knew you would be unhappy and might be a bit angry…” Marnis laughed. “But you have nothing to worry about. I am only responsible for Felmer, not his friends. Their institute will pay you the necessary amounts.”
“So I will be teaching at a school. Great. I expect some discipline and respect from the students.” Irnik chuckled, somewhat satisfied.
“The institute has a good reputation. But I can’t say anything about the students’ behaviour.”
“Correct…We will find out when we reach…”
At a far, yet visible distance from the Cerfisian convoy, a group of armed men moved through the bushes and trees. An archer moved swiftly ahead of the group and settled between two bushes that concealed him well.
Another armed man, whose rank badges shone well in the moonlight, sat near the archer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Roosevelt, are you ready?”
“Yes, captain…Who’s the target?”
The captain took out a telescope and zoomed in on the convoy. His eyes were fixed on Irnik.
‘He seems to be a formidable man…’ The captain thought, narrowing his eyes.
“The man in the blue suit…Take him out first…” He issued an order to Roosevelt.
“But, sir…That old man is our primary objective…” Roosevelt objected.
“True, he is…But I sense that the man in the blue suit might cause us a problem. I sense danger from him. Take your best shot and kill him in one blow…”
“Yes, sir. I will try my best…” Roosevelt responded, taking a deep breath.
He took out an arrow from the quiver, examined it, making sure it had no errors.
‘This arrow seems to have no issues…’ Roosevelt thought, scraping the arrow’s head.
Then he checked the string's tightness on the bow.
‘The bow is in optimal condition as well…’
Roosevelt plucked a hair from his head and held it in the air. The strand of hair swayed right.
‘The wind is soft and moving from south to north. It won’t cause much fluctuation in the arrow’s movement.’
Satisfied, Roosevelt slotted the nock of the arrow against the thin string. He moved his right leg forward, leaned his upper body, and heaved the string up to his ear.
With a deep breath and closed eyes, he manifested the arrow with his magic. A blue hue surrounded the arrow for a while, and settled inside it.
‘Water Art…Silent Death…’
After taking another deep breath and aiming correctly, he loosened his grip. The string slapped forward with a twang.
The arrow released and cut through the air with a hiss.
As the convoy moved, Irnik’s instincts shot up immediately. Without a single thought, he cast an Art in the hope of countering the unseen attack.
“Wind Art…” He mumbled. “Shockwave!”
A wave of high-speed wind launched in all directions. His Art reduced the arrow’s velocity, and it reached Irnik; he easily grabbed it with his hand.
“Nice try…” Irnik said, looking in the direction from which the arrow came. “But not enough…” He smiled.
Chapter discussion